Dimming device for regulating the electric lights of automobiles.



E. REED.

' mmmms DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS or AUTOMOBILES. V APPLICATION FILED\AUG.3I, 1916. 1 ,235,244;, Patented July 31, 1917 V ZSHEETS-SHEET l- 1 R. E. REED. DIMMING DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE ELECTRIC'LIGHTS 0F AUTOMOBILES.

A APPLICATION HLED AUG.3I, I916.

1,235,244 v I Patented July 31, 1917.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY E. REED. 0F RIPON. WISCONSIN.

DIMMING DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS 0F AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROY E. REED, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ripon, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dimming Devices for Regulating the Electric Lights of Automobiles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked tl1ereon,. whiclr form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a dimming device for regulating the electric lights of automobiles, motor boats, and other vehicles and machines, such as headlights and otherlights, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a dimming device of the kind described,

Specification of Letters Patent.

which is of simple and economical construe,

,tion, which is readily and easily applied to any motor vehicle construction and which is preferably supported in position conveniently located with reference to the steering wheel and to the usual engine-controlling members located thereon.

The advantages and simplicity of my improvement will appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view representing a top plan view of the steering wheel and post of an automobile provided with one form and arrangement of my improved dimming de- 'vice.

sistance, "ariablcnt the will of the. operator. may be cut into the electric circuit to'vary the intensity of the lights.

The device is n'efcrably located on the Patented July 31, 1917.

1 Application filed August 31 1916. Serial No. 117,886.

steering post or upon some part connected with the steering post, either above or below the steering wheel, so as to be conveniently placed at the hands of the driver when running the automobile or machine.

Referring now to that embodiment of the' invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings: indicates the steering-wheel of an automobile 11; 12, 12 indicate the steering post and its housing;"'and 13, 13

indicate the usual headlights. Ilhe lights are supplied from any suitable source of electric current, as by storage battery 1&1, which is connected to the lights in a familiar manner by line wires 15, 15; 16, 17, indicate the usual arms which control the spark and the throttle and 18 indicates the sector upon which said arms are mounted to rotate ,75; H

on the steering post as a center.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the sector 18 is provided with an extension 19 which is attached in any convenient way and which as shown,'is made of insulating material. A resistance box 20' (see Fig. 2) is attached to the said extension 19 and a plurality of contact membersflly 22, 23, 2st, are mounted on the extension and pro ect through the same and into the gage the contacts 2125 and establish electrical connection with one or the other of said contacts, depending upon the position of the arm 26.

The arm 26 is insulated from the part that it is connected with, in this case the steering post, in any usual manner as -by the Washers 28, 28, and the bushing 29. The line wires 15, 15 are extended up through the steering post and are connected, one to the arm 26 and the other to the resistance box 20 (see Figs. 1 and 2).

It is manifest from the foregoing descrip tion'that as the arm 26 is moved in one dirertionj to engage successive contactsuof the series 21-25. the amount of resistance in the electric circuit supplying the headlights will be increased and that-as the arm is swung, in the opposite direction, the amount of resistance will -be decreased. Thus will the lights be. dimmed on the one hand, or will be brought to full power, on

t in ti ing the lights. At the other end the other hand. The contacts andconhections may be so arranged that at one end of the swingof 'the arm 26,'.the current Wlll becom letely shut off, thus completely'ex- 9f t e swing of the arm, the resistance may completely cut out, This arrangement "ma be'variedmany ways as will be Apparent. Z

he electrical connectlons and insulation for the arm 26. and the resistance box, as

.shown" herein, are-for grounded systems as shown, inFi These will of course depend upon t e system used in the car, ma-

Qb'e applied.

"I -In the claims, 'I' use the words steering test as indicating any device, such asthe post proper; its" housings orrother attach- 1, chine or vehicle to which, the device is to zo' rnentsgjwhich support the steering wheel a which my' resistance and "c'ontrol i ling-members may be directly or indirectly referred to d 8 'slip'ported inconvenient proximity to the steering 'wheel. if The advantages of my improved dimming device will be readily ap reciated by those familiar withfthe a147, .arrangement, the-"few parts required, and t "ease and convenience of manipulation to .30 con-t" ,l the lightsff; 'at' all times are features xwhich make it'f'ofvalue 4 While in describing the'one embodiment of my inven"ni1lustrated herein, I have ils of'construc'tion and ar- 3 5 rangenignt, it' will be understood that these may be .r'libdified in'many ways and the invention is in no way to be'limited thereby, xcept as flpointed out in the appended claims. r

The. invention while illustrated and describedwith' reference to an automobile, is,

I 5 0 1.. A dimming device for 'of'jcpursqvapplicable to motor-cycles, aeroplanes,'moto r boats'and other motor driven vehicles, and in applying it to such other .45 uses, Slight modifications of attachment and arran ement will obviously be made, all of 'wi'hich are intended to be included Within the scope ofmy invention as herein claimed.

I claim of automobiles and other moto vehicles, comprising in comblnation with t e steering post, the steering wheel, the electric line wires in circuit with sa1d lights, a sector SS-member fixed on said steering 'pbst 1n' the 5 plane of the steering wheel, a resistance member attached to said sector member, a

he simplicity of?- plates on said arcuate member to electric lights contacts on saidsector member to vary the resistance in said light circuit.

2. A dimming device for electric llghts of automobiles and other motor vehicles,

comprising in combination with the steering post, the steering wheel, the electric. line wires in circuit with said lights, an arcuate resistance box attached to said steering post substantially in the plane of said steering wheel, a controlling arm mounted to swing about said steering post, the said'line' wires being connected respectively to said resistance box and to said controlling arm, and arcuately spaced contacts on said arcuate resistance box, said controlling arm being provided with a button to engage said contacts on said resistance box to vary the resistance in said light circuit.

3. A dimming device for electriclights of;

automobiles and other motor vehicles, oom- I prising in combination with the steering post, the steering wheel, the throttlei sector and the electric wires in circuit with said lights, an arcuate. member. attached to the ends of and formin a lcontinuatibn'of said throttle sector mem 8!,711 resistance box fixed to said arcuatemember, a controlling arm mounted to swing about said steering post, the said line wires being connected respectrolling arm, saidcontrol'ling arm having a contact button, and spaced contact plates on said arcuate member electrically connected with the said resistance box, said controltively to said resistance box and to said conling arm being adapted to en age through its contact button with the di erent contact vary the res1stance 1n-sa1d light circuit.

as my invention'I afiix my signature in the presence of witnesses, this 25 day 01? August,

A. D. 1916. 4 ROY REED. Witnesses:

JOHN G. KAISER, ROBERT REED, W. R. DYsAn'r.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing a 

